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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/Tunatron_Prime on 2025-03-25 16:18:01+00:00.
Intro
The narrative that is tied to the 2024 Rams is how they were able to climb out of the hole that was their 1-4 start, and end up just 22 snowy yards away from a potential game-winning touchdown in Philly against the eventual SuperBowl champs.
Despite the finish, 2024 will be remembered by fans favorably for a long time. There is an overwhelming love for this young team that grew up in front of us throughout the year. There were plenty of points where any sports team could have fallen apart; Instead, they rallied at every breaking point. Some of those obstacles culminated early and contributed to the 1-4 start, some came later in the year and tested the resolve of the Rams organization as a whole:
- Starting LT Alaric Jackson suspended the 1st two games
- Inuries from the season start at offensive line resulting in constant reshuffling up front
- Kupp & Nacua injuries
- Trade rumors at the bye week involving Stafford & Kupp
- The Malibu & Altadena fires, and the relocation of the home playoff game to Arizona
Coming into 2024, expectations were mixed, but a playoff berth at the least was expected amongst the majority of fans. Matthew Stafford at QB gives you a chance to win any game, the added beef at offensive line and emergence of Puka Nacua had fans excited at the possibilities. The jury was out on 1st year defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who was fielding a Rams defense devoid of Aaron Donald for the first time since 2013.
Those playoff hopes were tempered quickly through those first 5 weeks. Not just losses in the record book, but losses on the depth chart made things look awful. The IR-designated to return list filled up fast. The Rams came into week 1 without their starting CB and RT because of injury and LT due to suspension. Puka Nacua and Steve Avila both went down in week 1, then Jonah Jackson in week 2 as well as WR Cooper Kupp.
The young defense did not start the season well, either. They couldn’t stop the run, and were really struggling to finish tackles and sacks. It was rough through that bye week.
Yet, despite the shaky start, the defense eventually became a strength and identity of this team as they went on to win the NFC West. This identity was on full-display on Jan. 13 in the Wild Card matchup at “home” in Arizona against the Minnesota Vikings. With 50,000+ acres of Los Angeles suffering from wildfires, the Rams defense put on a show for the city with 9 sacks en route to a victory. This moment in Rams history will be remembered forever as a time when football lifted spirits, and seemed to be more than just a game for LA.
The Rams were on the doorstep of hosting the NFC Championship Game, and fans still feel it should have been them hosting the Commanders. Let’s look at the details behind how the Rams put together a remarkable season.
author: u/Tunatron_Prime
- Record: 10-7
- NFC West Division Winner
- Season Finish: Divisional Round Loss to Philadelphia
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse
- 0 Players selected to All-Pro List (5 received votes)
- 1 Player selected for Pro Bowl - ® Jared Verse
- Rams nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award - Kyren Williams
2024 DRAFT
| Rd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | School | Note* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Jared Verse | DL | Florida State | DROTY, immediate impact player and helped shape the identity of the defense. Game closer. |
| 2 | 39 | Braden Fiske | DL | Florida State | Traded away picks 52, 155 and 2025’s 2nd to grab Verse’s bestie. Paid off immediately, led team in sacks. |
| 3 | 83 | Blake Corum | RB | Michigan | Suprising pick for a lot of fans. Very similar to Kyren. Looked good in limited play. DNP in postseason due to injury. |
| 3 | 99 | Kamren Kinchens | S | Miami | Very athletic, needed time to develop into his role in Shula’s D. Played very well starting. Had a big pick-6 against Seattle. |
| 5 | 154 | Brennan Jackson | DE | Wazzu | Saw reps in only 7 games. Depth player as of now. |
| 6 | 196 | Tyler Davis | DT | Clemson | Graded well as a run-stopper in limited reps. Depth player as well. |
| 6 | 213 | Jordan Whittington | WR | Texas | Fit into the “Puka” role during WR injuries early in the season. Perfect McVay-type guy. Took over full time kick return duties during the season. |
| 6 | 217 | Beaux Limmer | OL | Arkansas | Gem find for Snead. Hard to imagine where the offensive line would be if Limmer had not stepped up this season. Took over as starter after injury to Jackson. |
| 7 | 254 | KT Leveston | OL | Kansas State | Remained on IR with an ankle injury all season. |
Free Agent Acquisitions
- Jonah Jackson - LG/C? - 3yr/$51M
- Darious Williams - CB - 3yr/$22.5M
- Colby Parkinson - TE - 3yr/$22.5
- Kamren Curl - S - 2yr/$9M
- Tre’Davious White - CB - 1yr/$8.5M
- Jimmy Garoppolo - QB - 1yr/$4.5M
- Boston Scott - RB - 1yr/1.225M
The best signings here were Darious Williams and Kam Curl. Starters all year, and consistent for the defense.
The worst? Jonah Jackson and Tre White. Jonah’s situation sucked, but something was off even in training camp that McVay hasn’t piped up about. And Tre was getting burnt so badly he was traded off the Baltimore midseason.
Players Re-Signed
- Demarcus Robinson - WR - 1yr/$4M
- Kevin Dotson - RG - 3yr/$48M
- Ronnie Rivers - RB - Exc. Rights FA ($985k)
- Alaric Jackson - LT - 2nd rd. tender ($4.89M)
- Michael Hoecht - OLB - Tender ($2.985)
- Christian Rozeboom - LB - 1yr/$1.4M
- Tyler Johnson - WR - 1yr/$1.125
- Troy Reeder - LB - 1yr/1.125
- John Johnson III - S - 1yr/$1.38M
- Larrell Murchison - DL - 1yr/$1.175M
WEEK BY WEEK REVIEW
| Week | Result | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L | Rams 20 Lions 26 | Rams dropped like flies to the IR list. This game showed how much growing the defense had to go. They absolutely could not stop the run. This game was exciting and went to OT. But the Lions went on a 70 yard drive, all essentially on the ground, winning on a Montgomery touchdown. The Rams were incapable of stopping the run. The positive to take from this was it appeared the Rams could keep up with the best the NFC had to offer. |
| 2 | L | Rams 10 Cardinals 41 | We’ve all wiped this game from our memories. Complete ass-whooping and even more injuries. Kyler Murray’s “yawn tweet” would be remembered. |
| 3 | W | Rams 27 49ers 24 | A win is a win, regardless of how ugly. This truly was the IR Bowl. At this point, the 49ers were the favorites to win the West. The Rams’ WR backups stepped up to help win this game. WR Xavier Smith’s 38 yard punt return electrified Sofi, and put the Rams into FG territory for the eventual game-winning kick by Karty. |
| 4 | L | Rams 18 Bears 24 | high-octane offense The most infuriating game from 2024. The offense couldn’t figure out how to consistently move the ball. The Bears’ made it difficult for the Rams defense to tee off on rookie QB Caleb Williams. I don’t even like thinking about this game. |
| 5 | L | Rams 19 Packers 24 | This is the first game you start to see glimpses of what the Rams could be on either side of the ball. Just zero consistency in putting together multiple positive drives on offense, mixed with the defense having zero answer for Packers TE Tucker Kraft who ended the day with 2 TD’s. |
| 6 | BYE | There was no chill for Rams fans here. There was no game to distract us from the trade rumors involving Kupp and Stafford. It felt almost inevitable that Kupp would be shipped out before the deadline. | |
| 7 | W | Rams 20 Raiders 15 | A “Get Right” game? Kind of? McVay historically has success following a bye, but the offense was really feeling the void from Nacua and Kupp being out. Luckily, DC Chris Shula used the bye week to really accentuate some different packages and get his defensive communication improved. A Kam Curl scoop & score, and multiple INT game from rookie McCollough showed that the young D could win games. |
| 8 | W | Rams 30 Vikings 20 | not This is the game where the refs seemed to miss a facemask call on Byron Young’s sack & safety on Sam Darnold to ice the game. Oh well. This game was fun as hell. Fireworks from both offenses in the first half, met with great defensive play from Shula’s squad in consecutive weeks. This was the first week that a majority of Rams fans felt that the team was really good. Also because of the win, it’s believed the team opted to trade Kupp at this time in lieu of a run at a playoff spot. |
| 9 | W | Rams 26 Seahawks 20 | Matthew Stafford took the soul out of the Seattle crowd with an overtime bomb, a 39 yard completion to Demarcus Robinson who brings it in one-handed with a defender draped all over him. Awesome finish to a toughly-fought game by both teams. The Rams have now won 3-straight, and we’re starting to think we can beat anyone… |
| 10 | L | Rams 15 Dolphins 23 | again…aaand back down to earth. The main culprit here was reshuffling the o-line . Jackson and Avila returned at center and guard, and Noteboom started at RT due to an injury. So 3/5th of the oline was moving around after all the cohesion created during a 3-game streak. As a result, Stafford was under fire all night, sacked 4 times. And the offense could only muster 5 FG’s from Karty. A… |
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